Casket sealing means



Dec. 12, 195o J J. MCEWAN 2,533,828

GASKET SEALING MEANS Filed Feb. 2, 1946 Arrafo/fy Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASKET SEALING MEANS James J. McEwan, Batesville, Ind., assignor to The Batesville Casket Company, Batesville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana,

Application February 2, 1946, Serial No. 645,113

(Cl. 27-17l 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in caskets or burial cases and is particularly directed to caskets which are hermetically sealed. More specifically, the invention resides in the provision of an improved sealing arrangement for caskets of the type employing separately movable head and foot lid sections. For an illustration of the type of a casket to which the present improvements are related, reference may be had to the previously issued patent to Purkiss, 2,284,921, is-

sued June 2, 1942.

It has been the object of the present inventor to provide an improved casket construction wherein the casket is hermetically sealed by means of gaskets extending between the adjacent margins of the body and lid sections and more particularly wherein the sealing means between the body and the lid sections cooperate with sealing means between the sections themselves to provide for a complete seal at all points when the two sections are drawn down into contact with the body.

The type of casket which employs what is known as a cut-top, or a top composed of sections which are independently movable, requires a' highly eiiicient sealing arrangement between the sections as well as between the sections and the body of the casket. The sealing relationship between the transverse sealing means, that is, the

sealing means between the sections and the seal- I 'f ing means between the sections and the body, presents a problem which is exceeedingly difcult of solution as will be evident from an understanding of the relationship of the sections and the body. The problem particularly centers itself in f the association of the seals at the point where the transverse seal contacts or is associated with the main body seal. The present inventor has provided an improved sealing means which completely seals the casket particularly at the juncture of the gaskets above referred to.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial case or casket of the cut-top type incorporating the improved sealing means, the View showing the head section of the top partially open.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2,

Figure 1, transversely of the center of the casket and through the joint between the top sections, this view illustrating the transverse gasket in position for sealing in full lines and in position of non-use in dot and dash lines.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged View of that iii 2 l portion of the transverse seal where the section thereto are joined, the View showing the end of one section secured in position and the end of the other in position to be secured.

Figure 4 is a sectional view enlarged out of Figure 2 detailing the structure ofthe gasket where a transverse portion joins the body gasket.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention showing the lid partially raised and illustrating the construction of the seal particularly at the juncture of the transverse seal portions with those portions of the gasket extended around the body.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken transversely of the lid and body portion of the casket showing the lid section down and about to be clamped, this view illustrating the modification of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view taken similar to 6 but showing the lid section fully clamped in position.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken through the transverse seal showing the superimposed gaskets in clamped, sealed position.

Referring to the drawings, a casket is generally shown in Figure 1. It is evident that it is unnecessary to illustrate any details of the casket beyond those which are vital to an understanding of the improved sealing means of this invention. The casket comprises in general a body portion Ill, a head top section II, and a foot top section i2. These are hinged to the rear of the body in the conventional manner (not shown). The casket includes the usual handles I3.

A clamping means is provided for pulling the sections down upon the body when the casket is to be finally sealed up. The means for operating the pull-down apparatus protrudes at one end of the casket as at I4. The pull-down studs I5 are apparent on the underside of the raised head section in the marginal flange I5 thereof. These studs are adapted to enter apertures I l in the marginal anges I8 of the body. The clamping elements which cooperate with the studs for engaging and locking them are not shown since details are unimportant to an understanding of the seal. Reference may be had to Patent 2,284,921 previously referred to for an understanding of a means for clamping or drawing the sections down upon the body.

The marginal flanges I8 of the body extend inwardly in a horizontal plane and are turned downwardly as at I9 for stiiiening the flanges. One of the lid sections, in this instance the foot section l2, provides a gasket supporting flange;v or ledge 20 extending laterally from the inner end wall of the section and provided with a downthereto. Its upper beaded or ribbed as in the preceding form. The

wardly turned fiange 2l for stiiening the same. The adjacent end wall of the head section H includes an overhanging flange or seal engaging portion 22 of the same width as the fange 2%. These flanges E@ and 22 are all of the same contour transversely of the casket and are effective for engaging the sealing means therebetween.

In the iirst form of the invention-disclosed herein the body gasket 23 extends continuously around the top of the flange I 8 and therefore en-V tirely aroun-:l the casket body. Its dat underside is fixed to the flange and there is aislightxoverhang 2G on the inner side 0f the marginal anges of the body for positioning the gasket thereon. Immediately adjacent the sealing flanges or ledges 20 and 22, the body gasket is provided with sealing tongues or strips of: gasketmaterial '25.

The tongues or sealing strips are of less width than the sealing fiangesand are of greater thickness than the normal width between the flanges 'Z and 22v when the lidvsections 'are down and f' not clamped. Their points 'of integral attachl' ment to the body sealing gasket are substantially centrally of the width thereof. They are of suf- The ends are skived The ends are atone'in the end ofeach sealing-strip adjacent the skived portions. 'These-screws?! preferably are made, of rubber or at least are rubber headed. ,However, they may be' designed from any mate- *.rial sc long as it does not interfere with thevefcacy. of the transverse seal.

These `screws. are fixed inopenings 28 in the `strips andvtheir attaching ends lare adapted; Ato engage through apertures'29 in the ange 20.

The lengths of the strips arecalculated so as to necessitate some stretching. These strips may befformed of rubber andthus they are elastic enoughto permit stretchingto bring the screws into` alignment with the openings 29 in the allges. Y Whenthe lid Vsection' is drawn down .,uponthe body, the overhanging .flange 22 therevof will, engage the rubber strips and the rubber `will.' flow. laterally in. the space between the flanges llingthe space and providing a perfect seal throughout the joint. Also, when the .anges of the lid sections engagethe longitudinally ribbed or beaded upper Surfacesof the body gasket, the rubber ofthe bodygasket will spread .Y out ,or flow. andaid materially in the sealing l operation.

When the foot section isv up, Ythe strips will hang loosely inside thecasketas shownin Figure 2 -and will nctvbe unsightly. They can be tucked K. inalong thelsides of the casket and may .beconcealed by the lining thereof. If-desired the transverse gasket maybe in one piece, that is, the joint 26;may be eliminated andthetransverse gasket is then merely a loop. which can be drawn up into position over the. ange 2B whenY the foot section is lowered.

In the modification shown in Figures to 8, in-

, clusivethree gaskets areemnloyed, one of these being abody. gasket 35. This gasket is continuous `extending entirely around the marginal flange I8 of the body portion and being attached surface. is longitudinally foot lid section emuloysa gasket 36, extending entirely around its front, back, and end flanges f looped portion .at its inner end. Therends of the gasket 36 include skived portions 38 extending out from under the foot section of the lid.

In the instance of the head section of the lid, the-same arrangement is provided, its gasket 39 including, ,the transverse loop 40. 'Ihe transverseqloop/or gasket'section 40 is secured to an cverhanging flange or ledge corresponding to the ledge 22 of the first form. Likewise, this gasket 39A includes skived portions extending out from under, the front and back anges thereof, the

skiving being formed .to mate with the skiving 38 of the gasket 36. As will be apparent from Figure 8, the gasket '40 overlies or is superimposed upon the gasket 31 when the lid sections are lowered. The gasket 39 is notched out as at 4I so-as to clear the lower'ends of the transverse gasket Ei'l. The gasketsSS and 39 are plain,that isfto say, they do not have beading. Their under surfaces engage the ribbed orbeaded top surfaceof the gasket 35 and seal with respect thereto as indicated in Figure 7.

Thus, it will be seen that in this modification, a continuous double gasket contact is assured throughout theseal andthe, joint between the two lid gaskets is 'effectively accomplished Athrough the skived portions.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a burialcasket 'of the type including, a body, and independently movable top sections v`mounted. on, the. body atthe rear thereof and Ymarginal sealing gasket, one of the topv sections yincluding a;transverse ledge along its inner-end wall over: which said strips are placed, meanson therledge for securing the adjacent ends of the stripsgtogether, and the-ends of saidA strips formed for overlapping sealing engagement.

' 2; In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having theirinner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, andv marginal sealing gaskets eX- tending around the entire margins of the respec tive sections including transverse portions at the adjacent ends of the sections, those. transverse portions of the respective gaskets which are disposed adjacently when the sections are lowered overlapping for forming, a sealed joint between the sections.

In, a burial casket or the. type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted onthe body at the rear thereofand having their inner ends disposedimmediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealing gasket extending around the margin of the body andl including an integral transversev gaskety adapted to seal the joint between the top sections.

4.. Ina burial casket ofthe type including, a body, and independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed; a marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around and between the adjacent margins of the body and top sections, a transverse sealing gasket adapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket consisting of an element formed of rubber or the like formed integrally with the marginal sealing gasket, and a transverse ledge formed on one of said top sections upon which said transverse gasket is disposed, the other top section including a flange overlapping said transverse gasket for sealing the joint between the top sections.

5. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, marginal sealing gaskets extending around the entire margins of the respective sections, each gasket including a transverse portion at the adjacent inner ends of the sections, those transverse portions of the respective gaskets which are disposed adjacently when the sections are lowered overlapping for forming a sealed joint between the sections, and a continuous marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around the body engageable by the sealing gaskets of the sections.

6. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body, a transverse sealing gasket having its ends secured to said marginal sealing gasket and adapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket disposed on the inner end wall of one of said top sections, and said top section including means for supporting the gasket.

7. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body, a transverse sealing gasket having its ends secured to said marginal sealing gasket and adapted to to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket disposed on the inner end wall of one of said top sections, said top section including means for supporting the gasket. said transverse sealing gasket consisting of sections having skived adjacent ends adapted to overlap and means for securing said adjacent ends to said means which supports the transverse gasket.

8. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealing gasket means extending entirely around and between the adjacent margins of the body and top sections, a transverse sealing gasket adapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket mounted relative to the inner end wall of one of said top sections and having its ends formed integrally with the marginal sealing gasket means whereby a hermetic seal is formed when clamping pressure is applied to bring the top sections down upon the body.

9. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independently movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealing gasket extending around the margin of the body adjacent to the marginal flanges of the sections, marginal sealing gaskets extending around the margins of the top sections, those ends of the respective top section gaskets which are disposed adjacently when the sections are lowered overlapping for forming a sealed joint, and transverse gasket means adapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket means being mounted along the adjacent inner end walls of the sections, and integrally connected to one of the marginal gaskets.

10. In a burial casket of the type including a body portion, independently movable lid sections having their inner ends adjacently disposed when closed, means for sealing the joint between the lid sections and the body portion, and sealing means extending transversely of the casket re1- ative to the adjacent ends of the lid sections for sealing the joint therebetween, said latter sealing means constituting an integral extension of the rst named means for sealing and providing therefore continuous unbroken sealing means for the casket.

JAMES J. MCEWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 146,381 Charles Jan. 13, 1874 2,284,921 Purkiss June 2, 1942 

